Begonia plant named &#39;Bbpaola&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Begonia  plant named ‘Bbpaola’, characterized by its compact, upright and mounded plant habit; freely flowering habit; double flowers with orange to red-colored tepals; and excellent flower longevity.

BOTANICAL DESIGNATION

Begonia×hybrida

CULTIVAR DENOMINATION

‘BBPAOLA’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begoniaplant, botanically known as Begonia×hiemalis, commercially known asElatior Begonia, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Bbpaola’.

The new Begonia was discovered and selected by the Inventor in acontrolled environment in Glandorf, Germany in 1999, as anaturally-occurring whole plant mutation of a proprietary seedlingselection of Begonia×hiemalis identified as code number C8, notpatented. The new Begonia was observed as a single plant in a group offlowering plants of the parent selection.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia by cuttings in a controlledenvironment in Glandorf, Germany since 2000, has shown that the uniquefeatures of this new Begonia are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Bbpaola’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Bbpaola’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Bbpaola’ as a new and distinct Begonia:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and mounded plant habit.    -   2. Freely flowering habit.    -   3. Double flowers with orange to red-colored tepals.    -   4. Excellent flower longevity.

Compared to plants of the parent selection, plants of the new Begoniahave flowers with more tepals. In addition, plants of the new Begoniaand the parent selection differ in tepal coloration as plants of theparent selection have darker red-colored tepals.

Plants of the new Begonia can also be compared to plants of the cultivarMonella, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,153. In side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Glandorf, Germany, plants of the new Begoniadiffered from plants of the cultivar Monella in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia had fewer tepals per flower than        plants of the cultivar Monella.    -   2. Plants of the new Begonia and the cultivar Monella differed        in tepal coloration as plants of the cultivar Monella had red        and yellow bi-colored tepals.    -   3. Plants of the new Begonia and the cultivar Monella differed        in pedicel and flower bract coloration as plants of the cultivar        Monella had yellow-colored pedicels and flower bracts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Begonia, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Begonia. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Bbpaola’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The aforementionedphotograph and following observations and measurements describe plantsgrown in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands during the spring and summer underconditions typical of commercial practice in a glass-covered greenhouse.During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures rangedfrom 15 to 20° C. and light levels were about 18,000 lux. Plants usedfor the photograph and the description were grown in 13-cm containersand were about three months old when the photograph and description weretaken.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia×hiemalis cultivar Bbpaola.-   Commercial classification: Elatior Begonia.-   Parentage:

Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of a proprietary seedlingselection of Begonia×hiemalis identified as code number C8, notpatented.

-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About two weeks at temperatures of            20° C.        -   Time to develop roots.—About four weeks at temperatures of            20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous and freely branched. Plants            of the new Begonia have not been observed to form tubers.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and habit.—Compact, upright and mounded plant            habit; freely branching with about five to six basal            branches per plant. Moderately vigorous. Vegetative shoots            are formed at basal nodes and flowering shoots are formed at            upper nodes.        -   Plant height.—About 20 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 20 to 25 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 9 to 13 cm. Diameter: About            1 to 3 cm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 144B.        -   Leaves.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length: About 8 to            9 cm. Width: About 5 to 6 cm. Shape: Roughly ovate;            asymmetrical. Apex: Acute. Base: Oblique. Margin: Doubly            crenate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; velvety. Venation pattern: Palmate. Color:            Developing leaves, upper surface: 136A. Developing leaves,            lower surface: 139A. Fully expanded leaves, upper and lower            surfaces: 136B. Venation, upper and lower surfaces: 136B.            Petiole length: About 4 to 6 cm. Petiole diameter: About            4 mm. Petiole texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Petiole color, upper and lower surfaces: 136B.            Stipule quantity: One to two per leaf. Stipule size: About 1            cm by 1 cm. Stipule texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous. Stipule color, upper and lower surfaces:            Close to 136A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—Double flowers with about eight to ten            tepals per flower; flowers arranged in axillary cymes; about            five to six open flowers per cyme; numerous cymes in flower            simultaneously; about 25 to 30 open flowers per plant.            Flowers positioned above and beyond the foliage and face            upright to outwardly. Flowers not fragrant.        -   Natural flowering season.—Under natural daylight conditions,            plants flower from spring until the fall. Flower initiation            and development is induced by long day/short night            conditions. Flowering continuous under photoinductive            conditions.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about four to five            weeks on the plant; flowers persistent.        -   Cyme height.—About 5 to 6 cm.        -   Cyme diameter.—About 6 to 7 cm.        -   Flowers.—Shape: Oval; double. Diameter: About 4 to 5 cm.            Depth (height): About 1 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1 to 1.5 cm. Diameter: About            2 cm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 24D.        -   Tepals.—Arrangement: Rosette. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded            to obtuse. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Length: About 2 to            3 cm. Width: About 3 to 4 cm. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Color: When opening,            upper surface: 23B to 25C. When opening, lower surface: 24D.            Fully opened, upper surface: 43B. Fully opened, lower            surface: 30C to 40D.        -   Flower bracts.—Quantity: Two per flower. Arrangement:            Opposite. Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 1 cm. Shape:            Broadly cordate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: 25C.        -   Peduncles.—Angle: About 30 to 45° from vertical. Length:            About 4 to 5 cm. Diameter: About 3 to 4 mm. Strength:            Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 144B.        -   Pedicels.—Angle: About 30 to 45° from vertical. Length:            About 2 to 3 cm. Diameter: About 2 to 3 mm. Strength:            Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 25C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: None observed. Pistils: None            observed.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed            as reproductive organs are not formed.-   Disease/pest resistance:

Plants of the new Begonia have not been observed to be resistant topathogens and pests common to Begonia.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant named ‘Bbpaola’, asillustrated and described.